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Tuesday, 19 February 2013

21 Cubans who defected in Veracruz are now in Miami

Some members of the troupe in Veracruz

The 21 Cuban musicians from the 93-member Grupo Guaracheros
de la Regla who defected from the carnival in Veracruz, Mexico, are now in
Miami.

The musicians came as guests of the Veracruz carnival
organizing committee, but never returned to their hotel last Tuesday, February
12. According migration authorities in Mexico, the musicians entered the
country as tourists, and moved on to the United States without the knowledge of
the Mexican government.

The group’s Mexican visas were arranged through a private company,
and clearly stated that they were “visitors not allowed to engage in gainful
activity."

Last Friday, February, 15, the director of the Veracruz
committee, Anselmo Estandía, reported that ten members of the troupe had
defected and not shown up for their return flight to Cuba. However, on Monday,
February 18, Mexican authorities confirmed that a total of 21 did not make the
flight scheduled for Thursday, February, 14, out of Veracruz’s Aeropuerto
Internacional Heriberto Jara Corona.

As far as Mexican authorities are concerned, the Cubans have
not broken any laws as long as they did not violate the labour requirements of
their visa, and did not overstay their six month allowance. Local authorities
in Veracruz also denied any liability, as did the state governor.

"This matter has nothing with the state government,”
said Veracruz governor Javier Duarte de Ochoa. “It is a federal immigration
issues. They came here legally, and had their documents in order.”

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